For the spread: Combine all the spread ingredients, except the cheeses; mix well. Stir in the cheeses. Set aside in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend. Remove from the refrigerator about 15 minutes before using.

For the patties: Crumble the well-chilled meat into a large bowl. Toss all the remaining patty ingredients on top of the ground beef, adding the shredded butter at the very last minute, so the butter will remain cold. Mix until well-combined; handle the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it (I use a two-tined fork or a large meat fork for this). When thoroughly mixed, form into 6 patties, about 4 inches in diameter. Immediately place the patties, covered with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator; chill for at least 1/2 hour.

For the guacamole: Combine all the guacamole ingredients, except the chopped toasted walnuts. Cover the guacamole; set aside at room temperature. Do not prepare more than 1 hour before serving. Toast the walnuts in a dry, heavy skillet on top of the grill, over medium-high heat, for 3-4 minutes or until toasted and aromatic. Stir frequently, as they burn easily. Set aside; cool completely.

To prepare the burgers for serving: Heat the grill on high for 5-10 minutes or until hot (about 450F). Turn the heat to medium-high and cook the bacon in a large, heavy, nonstick, fire-proof skillet until crisp, about 6 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. You may keep the bacon warm by laying the pieces on foil, away from direct heat.

Brush the grill rack with oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook for 4-5 minutes on the first side; turn the burgers. After you flip the burgers, sprinkle each burger with 1 teaspoon brown sugar; close the lid for about 1-2 minutes or until the sugar is melted. Spread each burger with about 2 tablespoons of the cheddar-garlic spread. Close the lid again and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese is partially melted (cooking the burger for 8-10 minutes in total or until just slightly pink in the middle). During the last few minutes of cooking, place the buns cut sides down on the grill rack until lightly toasted.

To assemble the burgers: Stir the walnuts into the guacamole; spread a thick layer on the bottom bun. Top with 1 slice each of onion and tomato, the burger patty, 2 slices of bacon (4 pieces) and the top bun. Serve.

Serves 6.

Comments

I grew up on a South Dakota farm, where we raised most of the food we ate. Mealtime was the main event in my family. My mother, grandmothers and aunts were all accomplished cooks. Experimenting freely with flavors and textures was a family custom—one that I’ve continued with my husband and sons. This burger is born from that experience.

The foundation of this creation is the burger patty. Adding chilled butter to leaner meat, though unexpected, provides the juicy, flavorful end result we all dream of in the perfect burger. The unusual combination of avocado, walnuts and pickles work well because the flavors compliment and play off of each other. The avocado adds a rich, buttery taste that brings out the richness in the walnuts and the pickles add the necessary acid to balance the flavors. There had to be some dill pickles on this burger—for my father, a hamburger wasn’t complete without them. The brown sugar glaze is a nice counter-balance to the saltiness of the bacon. I use brown sugar in deference to my mother, who always added a little to the pot roast, "because it makes the flavor bloom". The Cheddar-Garlic Spread began as a filling for cheese bread, a favorite of our sons, and just seemed natural for a burger topping. The ground chipotle chiles add some heat and smoke, which suits my husbands Latin taste buds to a tee.

All in all, these are very simple ingredients, combined in a less traditional manner, creating a delicious, juicy, flavor-packed burger. Roll up your sleeves, get plenty of napkins, and enjoy!